Improvement in the construction of ships of war



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTUS WALKER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS OF WAR.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 39,708, dated August 25, 1863; antedated May 23, 1863.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AUGUsrUs WALKER, of the city ot Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Steam and Sailing Vessels and in the Mode of Arming and Vorking the Same; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side view of a vessel illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a stern View of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan thereof. Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 5 is a transverse section thereof on the line 1 1. Fig. 6 is a transverse section on a larger scale in the saine plane, illustrating more clearly some peculiar features hereinafter described. Fig. 7 is a transverse section on the line 2 2 on the same scale as Fig. 6. Y

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

My said invention consists, lil-st, in the combination of a series of central longitudinal arches with a bottom ofpeeuliar form; second, in a peeuliarly-construeted prow employed for the purpose of a ram 5 third, in devices for Ventilating the interior of the ship without danger of the entrance of water or projectiles; fourth, in a peculiar manner of mounting and sustaining a revolving turret; iifth, in a peculiar construction of movable pilot-houses and devices for raising and lowering the same, sixth, in devices for working the anchors.

In order that others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may be enabled to fully understand and use the same, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A A .A2 A3 A4 represent various parts of the framing of the ship. The bottom B is made in double concave form, as shown in Fig. 5, terminating in a central keel, (l.

D D are respectively a direct and an inverted arch, terminating at each end at the king-posts A2 A3, and extending vertically from the deck-beams E to the keelson O. The arches D D and the vertical frames A4 near the longitudinal center ofthe ship are tightly bound together by metallic rods d d, so that the whole will constitute truss-frames of the greatest possible strength and rigidity, adapting the ship to be sustained by her center or by her ends without injury.

D2V represents an additional arch extending from one of the central frames, A4, to 'the `extreme bow, and inclosing and sustaining a prow, D3, constructed of iron or steel, arched both vertically and horizontally, so as to give it great strength. the said prow in its vertical section is clearly shown in Fig. 4. In its horizontal section it follows round from the stem in contact with the skin of the vessel, terminating at the longitudinal center in front of one ot' the stanchions A4, as before explained. To adapt it to resist a crushing-strain, and at the same time avoid unnecessary weight, the interior of the prow is filled with timber. This peculiar construction of prow does not interfere in any manner with the correct lines of the ship or change her external form in any degree.

The entire deck and sides of the vessel (above, and to the required distance below, the water-line) are protected by metallic armor of peculiar construction. It consists ot two straight plates, F F', Fig. 7, with a corrugated plate, F2, between them. The corrugations in the plate F2 are filled with indiarubber or any elastic material. This peculiar construction of armoris adapted by its yielding nature to resist projectiles very eiectually, and hence is not required to be of great weight.

G represents a shot-proof turret supported upon or within a casing, H, within which the guns are mounted. The top of the turret may be stationary and permanently secured to the casing or foundation II, and pierced with ports at suitable distances, or the entire turret or the iioor upon which the guns are mounted may be revolved within the casing H. The said casing consists, essentially, of a circular arch, h, as shown in Fig. G, giving it great strength both vertically and horizontally, which arch may be surniountcd by a rabbet, lL', to support the revolving parts. This structure aii'ords very iirm support to the turret, and, together with the peculiar construction and form of deck shown in Figs. 4 and 6, eft'ectually protects it from any injury from an enemys shot, which would endanger its free rotation. The ventilation of The form of the outline ofV the turret is provided for by tubes I l, conttltuting at their outer ends mere slits of about two inches in vertical width and two feet in length. These tubes extend inward Yand u pward in curved form and inclined direction to vthe interior ot' the casin g H, where they may be twelve inches square.

g g g represent a series of apertures in the turret, which communicate with the inner ends of the tubes I in such a manner as to permit the ingress of fresh air in any position of the turret. Any requisite number of the tubes I may be employed converging from both sides forward and abaft the turret, as well as directly alongside thereof. Thel form and inclination of the tubes prevent the possibility of the entrance ot' shot or water, and adapt them to create a forcible and constant draft ot' air. The top of the turrct'is dome-shaped,

and the whole upper deck is of convex form,

and the sides are inclined inward, so that no part of the ship above the waterline presents a perpendicular surface to receive the direct impact of an enemys shot.

l' I2 are Ventilating-tubes for admitting air and light to the cabins and hold. The tubes I incline upward from the outside, and under ordinary circumstances will in this way be protected from the entrance of water. The tubes I2, by which the cabins and staterooms are ventilated, may be closed by shot-proof caps 2, to exclude water and projectiles in rough weather or when in action.

J J represent sliding stanchions, which', while the vessel is under way, may project above the upper deck, butwhile in action are lowered to the position shown in Fig. 7, and thus constitute plugs, which close the tubes ll 12. A life line or chain rove through eyes or rings at the tops of the stanchions serves as a rail or guard while they are in their upper positions.

K K represent dome-topped pilot-houses adapted to slide up and down in the upper deck and constituting the only way of access below decks. While the ship is under way the said pilothouses, being raised to their u pper positions by windlasses L, and there sus tained by spring catches, pawls, or any other suitable means, afford additional means of ventilation and a full and free lookout. When in action the pilot houses are lowered so that only their convex tops will remain above the deck, and thus afford no available mark for the enemys shot. The roofs are pierced with narrow slits, affording sufcient lookout for steering or other purposes, and at the same time preventing the entrance of large or small shot.

M M represent circular fluked anchors attached to cables N, running vout through hawse-holes a at the bow. To weigh the anchor, it is iirst hove up to the hawse-holes in the usual manner, after which a stopper, P, leading from a port, n', is rove through the ring, and the anchor drawn back while the cable is paid out from the hawse-hole. When the anchor approaches the anchorport a', a block and tackle let down from a crane, O, is hooked to a smaller ring attached to the crown of the anchor, as shown in Fig. VII of the drawings, and the anchor, being thus elevated to a horizontal position,is hove inboard by the stopper P, which is attached to a capstan, p, for this purpose. When thus have in, the circular luke of the anchor completely closes the port. These anchor-ports are on an inclined plane, being reduced to one-fourth the size of the outer diameter extending inboard to its terminus. From the peculiar construction of this anchor-port, the anchor goes overboard from its own weight as soon as the ring-stopper is let go. Should the vessel be in action while at anchor, these ports may be closed in any suitable manner.

The relative positions of the hawse-holes a and ports n are shown in Fig. l. By this mode of stowing away the anchor the bow is left clear and the anchor preserved from danger of injury in the event of collision. The cranes O may likewise be employed as davits for raising the shipis boats and depositing them in suitable receptacles on deck.

Q Q represent smoke-stacks adapted to slide down to a level with the deck during action.

R- represents a propeller, of which there may be one, as shown in Fig. 5, or two, as represented in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The said propeller may be driven by a pair of oscillating engines, S S, so arranged as to avoid deadcenters on the cranks,

T T represent the boilers.

The coalbunkers will be located in the lower hold, and filled through dumpers protected by shot-proof gratings.

rlhe side frames, A A', are placed alternately in inclined and vertical positions, to afford the requisite strength.

All anchors and moorings are worked from within the vessel between decks.

The turret G, containing the guns, is operated through the medium of the engines, which are located in the hold.

I am aware that it has before been proposed to strengthen ships7 hulls with longitudinal trussframes of different construction from mine, and likewise that various forms of more or less concave bottoms have before been devised.

rlhe advantages of my peculiar combination ot truss-framin g and doubleconcave bottom are, first, to combine strength, seaworthiness, and a high rate of speed, the arches being of great vertical depth and the displacement of water chiefly near the surface, while at the same time the keel extends to a sufficient depth; second, to protect the screws from injury; third, the interior of the concave bottom above the keelson affords a safe and convenient location for the magazine, well below the waterline, and beyond danger of injury.

The vessel is coinely in her model, affords ample and Wellventilated apartments for otti- (ers immediately below the upper deck, and is in every Way adapted to constitute a most formidable ship of War. rlhe movable pilothouses are the only means of ingress to the interior, and when these are lowered, prepara tory to action, the ship is impossible to board, no foot-hold or place ot' entrance bein g left.

The yinvention is applicable to both steam and sailing` vessels, for naval and merchant service, ocean and inland.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the central longitud inal truss-framingI or arch and doubleconcave bottom, constructed substantially as herein described.

AUGUSTUS WALKER.

Witnesses CHARLEs SMITH, Oo'rAvrUs Knie-rrr. 

